The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Historically, Egypt has never exactly been receptive to the pursuits of fitness. Maybe it’s the heat; not wanting to work up more of a sweat than absolutely necessary is understandable, to a degree. But that’s changed in recent years, not only because of the increase in gyms and fitness centres, but also for a renewed sense of living healthy in a holistic sense, but also for the increasing forms of exercise available in the capital.

Health and fitness no longer only equate to dumbbells and treadmill; the likes of yoga, pilates and even pole-fitness have come to find a home in Egypt’s health and fitness lexicon, thanks to largely to the winners of this year’s Cairo 360 Editors’ Choice Awards in the Health & Fitness category.

Body Shapers

As one of the most popular gyms in the city, Body Shapers has come to be a hub for Cairenes, offering a service that caters to all fitness needs, through customised programs and expert trainers.

Curves

Using a circuit-based system that allows its members to take-on full body workouts, women-only gym, Curves, is one of the more unique in Cairo.

Fibers

With state-of-the-art equipment and dedicated personal training staff, spacious Maadi gym, Fibers, stands as one of the best in the area.

Fight & Fitness Factory

Now with two branches, in Sheikh Zayed and Maadi, Fight & Fitness Factory is the first gym of its kind in Egypt. Specialising in mixed martial arts and combat sports led by expert trainers, F3 also offer a huge range of classes, including yoga and circuit training, as well as specialised classes for kids

Gold’s Gym

Needing no introduction, Gold’s Gym is possibly the biggest name on the local fitness scene, boasting top equipment and trainers across its many branches.

Hers

Another of the contingent of women-only gym, Hers quickly rose to popularity thanks to its top equipment, classes and its welcoming and graceful atmosphere.

Mudra Yoga Studio

Located in Zamalek, Mudra is everything you’d want from a contemporary yoga studio. In addition to offering several forms of yoga such, as Slow Flow and Ashtanga yoga, Mudra also offers Yoga Flow for depression and pregnancy, amongst other things, all in a perfectly simple, relaxing surrounding.

Nūn Center

A versatile venue that has become as popular for its farmers markets as it has for its yoga classes, Nūn Center is one of the most unique places in Cairo. Taking the space of a villa in Zamalek, it has become a hub for holistic health in Cairo.

Oxygen

Though it goes largely unnoticed in Dokki, Oxygen is a gym that can roval any when it comes to its modern facilities and excellent service.

Pole Fit Egypt

One of, if not the, reason for the increasing popularity of pole-fitness in Egypt, Pole Fit Egypt opened up the concept of fitness for Cairenes in style, under the guidance of founder and instructor, Manar El Mokadem.

Samia Allouba

Samia Allouba is nothing short of a trailblazer in women’s fitness and alongside being one of the most enduring gyms and fitness centres of its kind, it still stands as one of the best thanks to its ever-changing classes and quality of instructors and equipment.

Shanti Yoga Cairo

A first-time Cairo 360 Editors’ Choice Award winner, Shanti Yoga Cairo has added a  new dimension to the fitness scene in a traditional-gym-heavy Heliopolis, offering different yoga and meditations classes among much more.

For more information on the 2016 Cairo 360 Editors’ Choice Awards, click here, where you can see all of this year’s winners.